SolidarityMarch of the Amazon Army,
the women who marched in support of Alexander Howat,
the Kansas coal miners, and the labor struggle, 1921(9ft.3" x 10ft, oil on canvas)

This painting, based on historic
photographs, depicts coal miners of Southeast Kansas and the women who marched
to support their rights, in the winter of 1921. At that time Kansas was third
in production of coal. The strike by the miners, and the march by their women
made national headlines.

The artist and others from the
community, identified many of the real people who made this history happen,
and interviewed descendants of this history and added their portraits from
family albums to the historic photos.

In the painting, on either side of
the coal miners stand two ladies, whose spirit inspired and protected them. St
Barbara stands on the left side of the painting. She is patron saint of coal
miners, and all those in danger of sudden death. On the right, stands the Statue
of Liberty; she was the first sight of America for many of the immigrants
coming here from eastern Europe during and after World War I. They did not
forget the promise she offered them. Some immigrants came directly from Ellis
Island to the Southeast Kansas coal mines. They found a hard life, dark
and dangerous conditions in the mines. Their local union leader, Howat, worked
hard to make their life better. He called the strike to get fair wages. When
he was jailed the issue became the right to strike. His men stayed on strike
and when it seemed nothing would work, their women marched. This labor
struggle was nationally significant, and helped win the right to strike.